obama. the parents of slain >> "just three weeks ago, she was here, in washington, with her classmates, performing for her country at my inauguration. and a week later, she was shot and killed in a chicago park after school." >>catherine: the president also talked about the tragic shootings in newtown, connecticut. >> "it has been two months since newtown. i know this is not the first time this country has debated how to reduce gun violence, but this time is different." >>catherine: it was after these shootings that the president proposed toughening gun laws. >> "these proposals deserve a vote. because in the two months since newtown, more than a thousand birthdays, graduations, and anniversaries have been stolen from our lives by a bullet from a gun." >>catherine: president obama made an emotional appeal to congress. >> "the families of aurora deserve a vote. the families of oak creek, and tucson, and blacksburg, and the countless other communities ripped open by gun violence - they deserve